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Zika virus

American  
[zee-kuh vahy-ruhs] / ˈzi kə ˌvaɪ rəs /

noun

  • Zika viruses
    plural
  1. a chiefly mosquito-borne virus of the genus Flavivirus that causes Zika, a mild illness.

  2. the illness itself, typically characterized by mild fever, rash, and joint pain; Zika.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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After all, this was the year that brought Brexit, the Zika virus outbreak and the deaths of David Bowie, George Michael and Prince.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 29, 2026

The pair had travelled through a country during an outbreak of the Zika virus - which can affect a baby's development - and the London hospital where Marten attended antenatal appointments became concerned.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2025

A study published January in the journal mBio found that the Zika virus hijacks a host protein called ANKLE2, which is a key protein in brain development.

From Salon ● Feb. 3, 2025

Rosenbergiella_YN46 also hampered Zika virus in both species, and it thwarted infection in A. albopictus mosquitoes that bit dengue-infected mice.

From Science Magazine ● Apr. 17, 2024

Polluted air, bacteria-infested water, and the Zika virus.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

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